The Austrian Ombudsman Board is launching a new format on the topic of violence against women, this time in cooperation with the Stiftung Forum Verfassung. "With this event, we want to raise awareness of gender-specific violence, especially in the context of social work, social pedagogy and health professions," says Ombudsperson Bernhard Achitz. The event is primarily aimed at people who want to work in these professions in the future, such as students at universities of applied sciences for social work or at colleges for social pedagogy. Michaela Schierhuber, Managing Director of the Forum Constitution Foundation, adds: "Above all, strengthening young people in their knowledge of the rules of the state so that they can apply this knowledge from the start of their careers, but also pass it on, is a particularly sustainable way of teaching."
The new format replaces the previous lecture series "One in Five", which was organised by MedUni Vienna's Centre for Forensic Medicine in collaboration with the Association of Autonomous Austrian Women's Shelters (AÖF) and the Austrian Ombudsman Board. In order to actively counteract the taboo and trivialisation, this lecture series was held for 15 years, primarily for MedUni Vienna students. "Professor Andrea Berzlanovich was in charge of the programme, but after her retirement, MedUni Vienna no longer continued the lecture series. However, the issue of violence against women is becoming increasingly urgent, which is why we are continuing with a new concept," says Achitz. As a national human rights institution, the Austrian Ombudsman Board aims to contribute to the protection and promotion of equal rights for women through further training and education. "Highlighting the relevance of fundamental rights in the everyday life of each and every individual is one of the legal mandates of the Stiftung Forum Verfassung (Constitutional Forum Foundation): in this current topic in particular, illuminating various aspects and interfaces is of central importance, and we are very happy to be involved," says Schierhuber.
The latest statistics show that as many as one in three women are now exposed to physical or sexual violence in their lives. As part of the "16 days against violence against women and girls", the new event will kick off Women's Month in March on 27th February 2026.
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